The Heraldry of the Trotters of Kettleshiel and their Descendants

My grandmother was a Trotter. We were brought up to see her family as somewhat odd and
remote, They were not to be taken seriously. So we knew nothing of what her forbears and
cousins had done. In fact they were a remarkable collection of merchants of one form or
another; one or two were involved in opium trade with China, leading to the opium wars
sensibly started by China; one was into nefarious financial practices with Coutts & Co
leading to being questioned in the House of Lords; and several of them took a serious
interest in heraldry.

Several people are taking interest in them. Roger Mortimer and Brian Bouchard have made
studies of the families and what they did in Horton, near Epsom, Surrey. Steve Sanders
is even doing a PhD thesis on John Trotter of Kettleshiel and London and his upholder
Master, Henry Williams of London in the 18th century. And I am taking an interest in
their heraldry and have made my studies of: